STORIES FROM THE WEB

The Stat Line Of The Night — 3/7/11 — Mike Ribeiro

Heading into Monday night’s slate of games, only five points separated the fourth-place Blackhawks and the eleventh-place Predators. Stuck in the middle of that mess was the Los Angeles Kings and the Dallas Stars, who just so happened to be playing one another last night at the Staples Center. Both teams were looking for someone to step up in this big game, and in the end that player would be the Stars’ Mike Ribeiro.

With Brad Richards still out of the line-up due to a concussion and Loui Eriksson having an off night, Ribeiro filled in admirably, recording a goal and two assists, including a beautiful drop pass to set up Brandon Morrow for the game-winning goal in overtime.

The 4-3 victory helped Dallas move up two spots into fifth place in the West, while the single point for the Kings keeps them in eighth-place, two clear of the ninth-place Wild and one behind seventh-place Phoenix. With teams moving up and down in the standings every night, things are only getting more interesting as we approach the final month of the regular season. Tonight it was Dallas’ turn to make their move, thanks to the play of Ribeiro. As a result, he earns our “Stat Line of the Night” for Monday, March 7, 2011.